Dispensing chute device

ABSTRACT

An improved and noncloggable chute-dispensing device having a plurality of discharge outlets for effecting simultaneous discharge of material, under the influence of gravity, introduced into the chute device at the inlet thereof, each one of the discharge outlets including a wall movable relative to the other walls and in a direction toward the discharge end thereof.

United States Patent lnventor Clinton L. Milliken Pleasant Hill, Calif. Appl. No. 722,854 Filed Apr. 22, 1968 Patented Jan. 12, 1971 Assignee Kais r Industries Corporation Oakland, Calif. a corporation of Nevada DISPENSING CHUTE DEVICE l 1 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 198/65, 198/68, 198/53, 198/186 Int. Cl ..B65g 47/44, B65 g 47/38 Field of Search 198/ l 86,

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,780,368 2/1957 Hickey et a1... 198/186 3,331,487 7/1967 Willoughby 198/68 2,758,700 8/1956 Plumb 198/57 FOREIGN PATENTS 548,689 9/1956 Italy 198/66 l,2i7,278 12/1964 Germany 198/66 Primary ExaminerRichard E. Aegerter Assistant Exa'miner-Roger S. Gaither Attorneys-James E. Toomey, Paul E. Cairow, Harold L.

Jenkins and Elmer E. Goshorn ABSTRACT: An improved and noncloggable chutedispensing device having a plurality of dischargeoutlets for effecting simultaneous discharge of material, under the influence of gravity, introduced into the chute device at the inlet thereof, each one of the discharge outlets including a wall movable relative to the other walls and in a direction toward the discharge end thereof.

PATENTED JAN 1 2 l97| SHEET 1 [1F 3 INVENTOR. CLINTON L. MILLIKEN ATTORNEY 'PATENTEDJANAIZISYI 3.554.356

SHEEI 2 0F 3 Isl, J Q i;

INVENTOR. CLINTON L. MILLIKEN ATTORNEY PATENTED JAN 1219?! sum 3 or 3 INVENTOR CLINTON L. MILLIKEN BY ATTORNEY DISPENSING CI'IUTE DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a chute device having ,a plurality of discharge outlets forf onveying material under the influence of gravity. More particularly, it relates to an improved noncloggable dispensing chute device having a plurality of discharge outlets each one of which includes-unique means for not only increasing the rate of discharge of the material through the chute device but also maintaining the increased rate of discharge of material therethrough without any excess accumulations of lodged material that would otherwise eventually clog the chute.

Various chute devices have been designed in the past for dispensing material under the influence of gravity; Examples of such prior art chute devices are illustrated in US. Pat. No. 3,057,454 to Frasch et al. granted on oer. 9, 1962, and US. Pat. No. 3,331,487 towilloughby, granted on July 18", 1967. One of the principal deficiencies in the aforesaid prior; art chute devices exemplified by vthe'above patents is that the chute devices failed to provide a plurality of outlets for effecting simultaneous discharge of material introduced into thechute device at the inlet. In addition, ,the' prior art chute devices failed to effectively compensate for any excess accumulations of material lodged within'the chute devices whereby such accumulations .would eventually block the flow of material through the chute.

7 SUMMARY or TI E INSTANT INVENTION It is the primary purpose of the instant invention, therefore, to provide a noncloggable dispensing chute device having a plurality of outlets for simultaneously discharging: inaterial, under the influence of gravity, introduced into the chute device at the inletflthereof and comprising unique meansin each of the outlets for'freely advancing and discharging ;.the

material therethrough.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view on'a reduced scale of a conveyor arrangement, parts; of which have been broken away and embodying a noncloggable dispensing'chute deviceot' theinstant invention;

FIG; 2 is an enlargedfront elevational view of the conveyor arrangement as viewed from a position-identified by lineZ-Z of FIG. I with parts removed and other parts added;

FIG. 2A is an enlarged perspective and-diagrammatic view;

as viewed from a position identified by line2-2of I FIG. 1, and" illustrates details of the chute device of the instant invention;

FIG. 3is a side view as viewed from a positiongidentified by line 3-3 of FIG. 2' with partsremoved and certain parts broken 1 away; I

. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG.

2 with parts added;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but on a reduced scale with parts broken away and-other parts,

removed and illustratesdetails of the chute device;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged and fragmentary elevational view-as DETAILEDDESCRIP'TION With further reference to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustratesa conveyor arrangement generally indicated atzl2 andembodying a preferred embodiment of the improved and noncloggas ble dispensin chute device 10 ofthe-instant, invention. The conveyor arr gernent l2generally comprisesapower driven endless belt l4,-a pair of parallel-spaced track elements l6 only one of which isshown, a carriage l8 movable along thex track elements 16 between the endsof the conveyorarrauge ment l2, and the chute device 10 of the instant invention affixed to the forward end ofthe carriage 18. The chute device 10 is preferably of an inverted'somewhat Y-shaped configuration and generally comprises a hopper portion or inlet means 20 and a pair of outlet means or portions 22 connected thereto. Although not shown, the framework of the conveyor arrangement rotatably supports a drive pulley 26 and idler or tail pulley 28 such that the endless belt 14" extends therebetween and wrappingly'engages the aforesaidpulleys 26 and 28 in a known manner. In addition, the pair of track elements 16 are affixed to the framework (not shown) above the upper reach of the belt in spaced relation'thereto. The drive pulley 26 is adapted to be rotated by an electric motor or the like in a counterclockwise direction so as-to move the upper reach of the belt 14 from right to left as'viewed in FIG. I. From a source, not shown, a continuous flow of material generally indicated at 8 is deliveredto the upper reach of the belt 14 at the right end thereof in FIG. I. Then the upper reach of the belt 14', in being driven by the drive pulley 26, carries the deposited flow of material to the movable carriage l8for transfer to the inlet portion 20 of thechute device 10in order to effect simultaneous discharge of the material 8 from bothoutlet portions22 and 22 thereof. The carriage 18 is capable of being moved to any number of positions between the pulleys 26 and 28 whereby both outlet portions 22 and 22 of the chute device 10 can be aligned with openings of a receptacle (not shown) for receiving the flow of material 8, one of such positions of the carriage 18 beingillustrated in FIG. 1. The outletportions 22 and 22 of the chute l0 incorporate unique attachable conveyors 24 and 24 having mova-' ble elements for not only increasingthe discharge rate of the chute but also preventing the lodgement of excess-accumulations that would otherwiseadhere to the chute sidewalls and clog the chute. 1 c

The carriage 18 of the conveyorsystem 12 generally comprises a pair of apertured sidewall portions 30 of "triangular shape only one of which is shown and appropriate framework (notshown) for holding the sidewall portions 30 in parallelspaced relation to each other. Forward and rearward wheels 32are rotatably mounted on shafts-32' affixed to the bottom edges of the sidewall portions 30of' the carriage l8and-are adapted-to rollingly, engage the associated' trackelementsl6, as depicted'in- FIGS. 1 and 3. A pair ofbending' rollersM in cluding support shafts 36 and 38 respectively arerotat'ably mounted in parallel-spaced relation to each other between" the sidewallportions30 of the carriage 18' in the manner illus portions 30 of the carriageand between'tlieoutlet'portions 22' of the chute device 10 toward the drive pulley'2'6'forwrapping engagement therewith, as illustrated in-FIG.- 1. The up'per reach of the belt l'4*is= gradually elevated to -thefupper pulley 34 atthe top of the carriage 'l8by a seriesof relativelyspaced guide rollers 40 extend between the-upwardly inclined topedges of the sidewall portions SWof'the carrIage ISand-are rotatably mounted thereto in a conventional-fashion.

The carriage 18 is'moved to any number of-fiesired positions between'the-pulleys'26" and 280i the conveyor ll'by'a chain sprocketdrive 15; The chain sprocket drive 15 generally comprises an endless chain 17 and a pair of 'spaced'sprockets: The

drive sprocket is connected to a hand-operatedcrankl9 and the ,relatively'spaeed driven sprocket (not shown) is afl'txed to the shaft 32' of'one of the front wheels32 ofith'evcarriage 18. The chain 17 extends between and is connectedto th'e'spaced sprockets whereby rotation of the handcranlt 'in either direction by the operator causes corresponding rotation of the drive sprocket and in turn movement of the carriage 18 in either direction along the spaced tracks 16. Once the carriage 18 has been moved to a desired position a conventional handbrake 21, affixed to the sidewall portion 30, as indicated in FIG. 1, is adjusted by th operator to frictionally engage one of the track elements 16 whereby the carriage 18 is locked in a desired position.

ln order to maintain proper tensioning of the belt 14 throughout movement and operation of the carriage 18 along the track elements 16, as well as proper wrapping engagement of the belt 14 with the drive pulley 26 during rotation thereof and during loading of the upper reach of the belt with particulate material to be transferred to the chute 10, an appropriate belt-tensioning means (not shown) is provided. lt is to be understood that the conveyor 12 between the drive and idler pulleys 26 and 28 includes support rollers (not shown) in engagement with the upper reach of the belt 14. These support rollers, not shown, in conjunction with the guide rollers 40 on the carriage l8 enable the upper reach of the belt 14, particularly when the upper reach is subjected to the weight of a deposited flow of material 8 from a source (not shown), to form a longitudinally extending trough between the longitudinal edges of the upper reach of the belt 14 whereby the deposited flow of material is confined between the longitudinal edges of the upper reach of the belt 14.

The chute device is preferably made up of interconnected sidewalls 42, 44 and 46 of steel plate. The inlet portion of the chute device 10 includes a front sidewall 42, a pair of sidewalls 44 and an upwardly inclined back sidewall 46, as best shown in FIG. 3. The lower ends of the rearward edges of the sidewalls 44 and 44 adjacent the top edge of the back sidewall 46 of the chute device 10 at the inlet end thereof are cut away. By virtue of the rearward edges of the sidewalls 44 and 44 being partially cut away adjacent the top edge of the back sidewall 46, the back sidewall 46 is of a relatively shorter height than the front sidewall 42 in order that the pulley 34 can be partially disposed between the overlapped by the sidewalls 44. The top edge of the back sidewall 46 includes an adjustable strip 48 attached thereto. The top edge of the strip 48 wipingly engages the downwardly facing surface of the belt 14 whereby such wiping engagement effectively fonns a seal between the top edge of the strip 48 and the belt 14 thereby preventing leakage of material from the chute 10.

The inlet portion 20 of the chute device 10 is affixed to the carriage 18 in order to hold the inlet portion 30 in proper relation to the belt 14 as it partially wraps around the upper pulley 34 of the carriage 18. To this end outer surface portions of the sidewalls 44 of the chute device 10 have reinforced brackets 50 only one of which is shown weldably affixed thereto, as indicated in FIG. 3. The forward leading edges of the sidewall portions 30 of the carriage 18 have triangular-shaped brackets 52 affixed thereto, only one of which is shown. The upper edge of the brackets 52 are flanged and, similarly, the lower edge of the brackets 50 are flanged. These flanges of the brackets 50 and 52 are provided with alignable apertures (not shown) and are disposable in abutting engagement. As indicated in FIG. 3, upon alignment of the apertures of the abutting flanges of the brackets 50 and 52, a plurality of conventional nut-bolt assemblies 54 are passed through the aligned apertures in a known manner whereby the inlet portion 20 of the chute device is held in proper relation to the carriage 18.

The pair of outlet portions 22 of the chute device 10 are connected to the lower end of the inlet portion 20 and extend in an outward and a downward direction relative thereto. Description of one of the pair of outlet portions 22 will suffice for both unless otherwise specified, inasmuch as each one of the pair of outlet portions is of substantially corresponding shape about the longitudinal axis of the chute device 10, as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 5. The outlet portion 22 includes a front sidewall section 56 integrally connected to the front sidewall section of the other outlet portion 22 and to the lower end of the front sidewall 42 of the inlet portion 20. However, the top edge of the back sidewall section 56 of the outlet por tion 22 is weldably connected, as indicated at 58 in FIG. 3, to the lower edge of the back sidewall 46 of the inlet portion 20. The outwardly facing longitudinally extending edges of the front and back sidewall sections 56 and 56 of the outlet portion 22 include upper edge portions that extend in a direction downwardly and outwardly of the inlet portion of the chute device 10 and further include lower edge portions that extend longitudinally of the chute 10.

If desired, a top sidewall made up of upper and lower plate sections 60 and 62 can be connected to the outwardly facing edges of the front and back sidewall sections 56 and 56 of the outlet portion 22. The upper plate section 60 extends between and is connected to the upper inclined edges of the front and back sidewall sections 56 and 56 of the outlet portion 22. Further, the top edge of the upper plate section 60 is connected, as indicated at 66 in FIGS. 1-3, to the lower edge of the adjacent sidewall 44 of inlet portion 20. On the other hand, the lower plate section 62 of the top sidewall extends between and is connected to the outwardly facing and longitudinally extending lower edge portions of the front and back sidewall sections 56 and 56 of the outlet portion 22. The adjacent edges of the plate sections 60 and 62 are connected, as indicated at 64.

The inwardly facing longitudinally extending edges of the front and back sidewall sections 56 and 56 of both outlet portions 22 of the chute device 10 include upper edge portions. These upper edge portions extend in a downward and outward direction relative to the inlet portion 20 of the chute device 10 and are cutaway so as to define inwardly offset edge portions 70 and 72, as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 5. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5, each one of the oppositely facing bottom or inner sidewalls 68 is connected to the inwardly facing and longitudinally extending lower edge portions of the front and back sidewall sections 56 and 56 of the associated one of the outlet portions 22. The lower edges of the outlet portions 22 of the chute device 10, each one being made up of the front and back sidewall sections 56 and 56, the bottom sidewall 68 and the lower plate section 62 of the top sidewall, form the two discharge ends of the chute device 10.

The inwardly facing upper edge portions 70 of each one of the front and back sidewall sections 56 and 56 of the left outlet portion 22 define a recess 74 of approximately channel shape, as indicated in FIG. 5. The attachable conveyor 24 extends between the upper edge portions 70 of the front and back sidewall sections 56 and 56 of the left outlet portion 22 and is connected thereto. Similarly, the upper inwardly facing upper edge portions 72 of each one of the front and back sidewall sections 56 and 56 of the right outlet portion 22 define a recess 77 of approximately channel shape The other attachable conveyor 24 extends between the edge portions 72 of the front and back sidewall sections 56 and 56 of the right outlet portion 22 and is connected thereto.

The attachable conveyor 24 for the left outlet portion 22, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, is generally comprised of a framework having a pair of parrallel-spaced, elongated channel-shaped members 76 and a plate section 78 extending between and connected to the upper and outwardly facing flanges of the channel-shaped elements 76, as best indicated in FIG. 4. The channel-shaped members 76 are of a length corresponding to the length of the recess 74 defined by the edges 70 of the front and back sidewall sections 56 and 56 of the left outlet portion 22. Further, the distance between the parallel-spaced, channel-shaped members 76 is greater than the distance between the front and back sidewall sections 56 and 56 of the left outlet portion 22. Therefore, in order to connect the framework of the conveyor 24 in proper relation to the front and back sidewall sections 56 and 56 of the left outlet portion 22, six L- shaped brackets 80 are provided.

Each one of the brackets 80 is comprised of an angle member 82 and a relatively short length of strip 84. The inwardly disposed leg section of the angle member 82 is spaced parallel to the adjacent sidewall section 56. The lower end of the outwardly disposed leg section of the member 82 extends beyond the lower end of the inwardly disposed leg section and is flanged, as indicated at 81 in FIG. 4, for facilitating connection to the plate section 78 at an outer edge thereof lying above the upper flange of the underlying channel element 76, as shown in FIG. 4. On the other hand, the inner end' of the strip 84 of each one of the brackets 80 is flanged for facilitating connection to an outer surface portion of either one of the front and back sidewall sections 56 and 56. The outer end of the strip 84 is connected to the upper end of the outer leg section of the angle element 82. The L-shaped brackets 80 are affixed in groups of three relatively spaced brackets 80 to the front and back'sidewall sections 56 of the left outlet portion 22 for the purpose of holding the plate section 78 in properly spaced relation to the upper edge portions 70 of the adjacent front and backsidewall sections 56, as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 45.

The upper and lower ends of the pair of spaced channelshaped member 76' include alignable elongated slots, only one of the elongated slots being indicated at 92 in FIGS. 6--7, for mounting a drive pulley 86 and driven pulley 88, respectively. Inasmuch as the drive and driven pulleys :86 and 88 are mounted in a similar fashion to the upperand lower ends of the pair of spaced channel-shaped members 76, the descrip tion of the connection of the driven pulley 88 to the lower end of the pair of spaced channel-shaped members 76 will suffice for both pulleys 86 and 88. With particular reference to FIGS. 2, 3,6 and 7, the driven pulley 88 is provided with a shaft 90 extending between the aligned elongated slots, only one of which is indicated at 92in FIG. 7, at the lower end of the pair of spaced channel-shaped members 76. An elongated roller 94 is keyed to the shaft 90 between the ends thereof in a known manner. The elongated roller 94 is of a length greater than the distance between the front and back sidewall sections 56 and 56 of the left outlet portion 22 but of a length shorter than the distance between the pair of spaced channel-shaped members. Either end of the rotatable shaft 90 is secured to the lower end of the pair of spaced channel-shaped elements 76 by an apertured adapter 96 of cylindrical shape.- Each adapted 96 is affixed to its associated end of the shaft 90 within the outwardly facing channel-shaped recess of the adjacent member 76 by a set screw 98 connected'to the smaller and outer hub section of the adapter 96, as indicatedby dotted lines in FIG. 6.

' disposed between the rollers 94 and 94 of the pulleys 86 and 88, the upper reach of the belt 100 is supported by the top surface of the plate section 78 and therefore slidably engages the plate section'78 during movement of the belt '100 by the drive pulley 86. The spacing between the top edge of the plate section 78 and the adjacent drive roller 94 and between the bottom edge thereof and the adjacent driven roller 94 prevents interference of the top and bottom edges of the plate section 78 with the wrapping engagement of the belt l00about the rollers 94. Further, the upperedge of the plate section 78 is bent downwardly, as indicated at 79 in FIG. 2, so as to minimize cutting engagement of the upper edge of the plate 7 section 78 with portions of the upper reach of the belt 100 in being moved in a directiontoward the discharge end of the chute device 10. g

The belt 100 is a commercially available material having the 2 characteristics of resiliency and flexibility for sufficient tensioning of the belt 100 between the pulleys 86 and 88. The belt 100 is usually generally comprised of a web of woven fibers and a layer of a suitable grade of rubber material impregnated the adjacent edges of the belt 100. To this end,

should have a coefficient of friction for satisfactory wrapping engagement with the pulleys 86 and 88 and for frictionally engaging portions of the material being conveyed through the chute device 10.

The belt 100 is tensioned between the pulleys 86 and 88 by adjustably mounting each one of the adapters 96 at either end of the shaft 90 of the driven pulley 88 to the web of the associated one of the pair of spaced channel-shaped members 76. With particular reference to FIGS. 6- 7, each one of the adapters 96 associated with the driven pulley 88 includes four relatively spaced openings 102, only one of which is indicated. The openings 102 are arranged in two pairs such that the centers of each pair of the two pairs of openings 102 is disposed on a chordal line extending longitudinally of the channelshaped members 76. Each pair of chordally aligned openings are placed on either side of the longitudinal axis of the shaft 90 in parallel-spaced relation. Four pins 104 are affixed at one end thereof to adapter 96 in the openings 102 thereof such that each pair of chordally aligned pins 104 are arranged to be slidably fitted at their exposed ends within an elongated slot 106 that is provided in the web of the channel-shaped member 76. Thus, the pair of slots 106 is in conjunction with the four pins 104 enable the axis of the driven pulley 88 to be adjusted in parallel relative to the axis of the drive pulley 86.

A lockable adjusting screw assembly 108 is threadably con nected to an upstanding lug l 10 provided on the outer surface portion of the web of each one of the pair of spaced channelshaped members 76 at their lower ends. The free threaded end of the adjustable screw assembly 108 is adapted to abuttingly engage an outer peripheral surface portion of the smaller hub section of the adapted 96 at either end of the shaft 90 of the driven pulley 88. Thus, with the adapters 96 of the driven pulley 88 being precisely adjusted relative to the drive pulley 86 by the aforesaid lockable adjusting screw assembly 108 connected to the lug 110 on each one of the channel-shaped members 76, the belt can be tensioned a desired amount.

Depending upon the requirements of the chute device 10 of the instant invention in conveying material and the type of material being conveyed, a seal can be formed between the edges 70 defining the bottom of the recesses of the front and back sidewall sections 56 of the left outlet pa-tion 22 and :Zn elongated strip of resilient and flexible material such as a suitable grade of rubber is clarnpingly secured to an outer surface por tion of each one of the sidewall sections 56 and 56 of the left outlet portion 22. As indicated in-FIG. 2, the elongate strip tions 56 of the left outletportion 22 will suffice for both.

Each bracket 114 is comprised of a strip of'material formed into an angular shape such that the outer end of the shorter leg section is connected to an outer surface portion of the associated sidewall section 56. The lowered end of the-longer leg section of the strip 114 is connected to the elongated bar I12, as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 4. As is evident in-FIG. 2, eachone of the aforedescribed brackets 80 for connecting the left movable element 24 to each one of the sidewall sections 56 and 56 is disposed between a pair of brackets 114 for connect ing the bar ll2'to the associated sidewall section. The bar I I2 and strip 1 10 include separate series of apertures, not shown,

. that are alignable with a series of openings in :the lower end of each one of the longer leg sections of the brackets 114 associated with the sidewall section A series ofstudbolts 116 are affixed at their inner ends to the associated sidewall section 56. Each one of the studbolts 116' is-disposed-to pass through the aligned apertures of the bar and strip and aligned openings of the bracket 114. The exposed endof each one of the studbolts 116 is threaded for assembly of a locknut 118. In addition, the apertures (not shown) of the strip 110 are elongated for enabling the lower edge of the strip 110 to be adjusted into sliding engagement with the associated longitudinal edge of the belt 100. Thus, when the locknuts 118 are fastened to the threaded cm." of the associated studbolts 116 so as to press the clamping ba 1 12 into forceful engagement with the strip 110 along the length thereof, the strip 110 is clamped between the associated sidewall 56 and bar 112 thereby holding the lower edge of the flexible strip 110 in sealing engagement with the adjacent edge of the belt 100, as indicated in FIG. 4.

By virtue of the recesses 77 of the front and back sidewall sections 56 and 56 of the right outlet portion 22 of the chute 10, as viewed in FlGS. 2 and 5, being of a relatively shorter length than the recesses 74 for the sidewall sections 56 and 56 of the left outlet portion, the right attachable conveyor 24 is of a shorter overall length but similar construction. Due to this shorter length, only four support brackets 80 are required, two being connected to the associated one of the front and back sidewall sections 56 of the right outlet portion 23, as illustrated FIG. 2. Further, only five brackets 114 are required for connecting each one of the clamping bars 1 12 to the front and back sidewall sections 56 of the right outlet portion 22. Thus, the endless belt 100 for the right conveyor 24' is made up of a strip of material of relatively shorter length than the belt 100 of the left conveyor 24.

As is further evident in FIGS. 2 and 2A the upper end of the longer conveyor 24 overlaps the upper end of the shorter conveyor 24' whereby the axes of their respective drive pulleys 86 preferably intersect the longitudinal axis of the hopper 20 of the chute device at relatively spaced points. The upper end of the longer conveyor 24 acts as a bridging means to divide the material 8 introduced into the inlet of the chute device 10 into two separate portions at the exit end of the inlet portion so as to efiect simultaneous discharge of the divided portions of the material from their respective outlet portions 22 and 22 of the chute device 10 as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 2A.

A common drive generally indicated at 120 for both drive pulleys 86 of the conveyors 24 and 24' can be provided in order to effect simultaneous movement of the belt 100 thereof in a downward direction toward the discharge ends of the outlet portions 22. The common drive 120 is generally comprised of an electric motor 122, a worm gear speed reduction transmission 124 and a shaft 126 connnected to the motor 122 and the worm gear transmission 124. The motor 122 and transmission 124 are afiixed to a base 128' which in turn is anchored to a U-shaped bracket 129. The U-shaped bracket 129 is disposed in front of the front sidewall 42 of the inlet portion 20 such that the legs of the bracket 129 are affixed to the sidewalls 44 thereof, as depicted in FIGS. 1--3. The output shaft 128 of the transmission 124 is disposed at right angles to the input shaft 126 and includes a drive wheel 131. An endless flexible chain 134 is connected to the drive wheel 131 and the drive sprockets 130 and 132 of the drive pulleys 86 and 86 of the left and right conveyors 24 and 24'. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the chain is partially wrapped about the upper half of the drive wheel 131, the lower right hand quadrant of the upper drive sprocket 130 and substantially around the lower drive sprocket 132. Thus, when the motor 122 is energized by an appropriate control circuit (not shown), the drive wheel 131 mounted on the output shaft 128 is rotated in a clockwise direction thereby rotating the lower drive sprocket 132 in a clockwise direction thereby rotating the lower drive sprocket 132 in a clockwise direction while rotating the upper drive sprocket 130 in a counterclockwise direction. Thus, the drive chain 134 in effecting rotation of the upper drive sprocket 130 in a counterclockwise direction and rotation of the lower drive sprocket 132 in a clockwise direction causes simultaneous movement of the upper reaches of both belts 100 of the left and right subassemblies 24 and 24' in a direction toward the discharge end of their respective outlet portions 22. The common drive 120 preferably moves the upper reach of each one of the belts at a rate relatively slower than the rate of free fall, due to the effect of gravity, of the material being conveyed through the chute device 10.

The outlet portions 22 of the chute device 10 are also affixed to the carriage 18. A channel-shaped member 136 is affixed to the outer surface of each one of the sidewalls 30 of the carriage 18 at its lower edge thereof. In addition, each one of the channel-shaped members 136 is provided with openings for enabling attachment of the shafts 32 for mounting the wheels 32, as aforedescribed. Each one of the forward ends of the pair of channel-shaped members 136 extends beyond the leading edge of the carriage 18 and are disposed beneath the lower flanges of the pair of channel-shaped members 76 making up the left or right subassembly 24 or 24, as the case may be, as shown in FIG. 2. The forward end of each one of the channel-shaped elements 136 is rigidly connected to its associated conveyor 24 or 24 by an angle-shaped plate 138. The lower leg section of the angle-shaped plate 138 is affixed to the web of the associated channel-shaped member 136. The upper and shorter leg section of the plate 138 is affixed to the bottom flanges of the associated pair of channel-shaped elements 76 of the left or right conveyor 24 or 24, a the case may be.

The material dispensed by the chute device 10 can be any suitable substance. However the chute device is especially suited to handle a mixture of minerallike substance of uniform or varied mesh size wherein the mixture has a moisture content. Regardless of the material to be dispensed by the chute device 10, the material has a coefficient of friction and adhesive properties and therefore tends to adhere to the walls of the chute 10. By virtue of the movable belts 100 being in frictional engagement with portions of the material being conveyed through the chute device 10, the movable belts 100 cause both outlet portions 22 and 22 to simultaneously discharge the conveyed material at increased rates as well as prevent the lodgement of any excess accumulation of material to the walls of the chute.

As evidence of the advantages of the subject invention, a mixture of clay material having a moisture content on the order of 10 percent to 15 percent was effectively conveyed by a chute device 10 as disclosed herein without clogging. Eighty percent of the clay material was of 325 mesh size, while 20 percent was greater than 325 mesh size.

Although an advantageous embodiment of the instant invention has been illustrated and described, various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit thereof as defined by the following appended claims, wherein:

I claim:

1. A noncloggable dispensing chute device comprising an inlet means and at least a pair of divergent outlets, said pair of outlets being adapted to simultaneously discharge material introduced into said chute device through said inlet means, each of said pair of outlets including side and bottom walls, said bottom walls consisting of endless conveyor belts, the upper end of one of said conveyor belts being positioned above and in spaced, vertical, overlapping relationship to the upper end of the other conveyor belt so as to effectively prevent spillage of material between the upper ends of said conveyor belts, said conveyor belts cooperating with the sidewalls of their respective outlets to freely transport material through said outlets.

2. A noncloggable dispensing chute device as set forth in claim 1 in which said chute device has an inverted somewhat Y-shaped configuration.

3. A noncloggable dispensing chute device as set forth in claim 1 including a top wall extending between and connected to the sidewalls of one of said outlets.

4. The dispensing chute device of claim 1 in which the conveyor belt of a given outlet is of a width greater than the distance between the adjacent sidewalls of the given outlet with which the belt is associated.

belts on said outlet, for simultaneously advancing each one of said belts in a direction toward the discharge end of said outlets with which each one of said belts is associated.

.7. A noncloggable dispensing chute device as set forth in claim 1 in which the conveyor belt of a given outlet includes means for adjusting the tension on said belt.

8. A noncloggable dispensing chute device as set forth in claim 1 in which said movable belts of said conveyors in said pair of outlets are of different lengths.

9. A noncloggable dispensing chute device as set forth in claim 1, including a plurality of bracket means extending between a conveyor belt of a given outlet in one of the pair of sidewalls of the given outlets in order to connect said conveyor belt to the given outlet.

10. In a noncloggable dispensing chute device provided with inlet means and at least a pair of opposed, divergent outlets adapted to simultaneouslydischarge material introduced into said chute device, each of said outlets including side and bottom walls, the improvement wherein said bottom walls are comprised of movabIe endIess conveyor. belts, the upper end of one of said conveyor belts being positioned above and in spaced, vertical, overlapping relationship to the upper end of the other conveyor belt, so as to effectively prevent spillage of material between the upper ends of said conveyor belts during normal movement thereof in transporting material through said outlets.

l 1. ln a noncloggable dispensing chute device as set forth in claim 10, in which said chute device has an inverted, somewhat Y-shaped configuration. 

1. A noncloggable dispensing chute device comprising an inlet means and at least a pair of divergent outlets, said pair of outlets being adapted to simultaneously discharge material introduced into said chute device through said inlet means, each of said pair of outlets including side and bottom walls, said bottom walls consisting of endless conveyor belts, the upper end of one of said conveyor belts being positioned above and in spaced, vertical, overlapping relationship to the upper end of the other conveyor belt so as to effectively prevent spillage of material between the upper ends of said conveyor belts, said conveyor belts cooperating with the sidewalls of their respective outlets to freely transport material through said outlets.
 2. A noncloggable dispensing chute device as set forth in claim 1 in which said chute device has an inverted somewhat Y-shaped configuration.
 3. A noncloggable dispensing chute device as set forth in claim 1 including a top wall extending between and connected to the sidewalls of one of said outlets.
 4. The dispensing chute device of claim 1 in which the conveyor belt of a given outlet is of a width greater than the distance between the adjacent sidewalls of the given outlet with which the belt is associated.
 5. The dispensing chute device of claim 1 including flexible strip means affixed to an edge of a sidewall of a given outlet adjacent an edge of said belt and disposed in engagement with the adjacent edge of said belt so as to form a seal between the belt and the adjacent sidewall of a given outlet.
 6. A noncloggable dispensing chute device as set forth in claim 1 including common drive means connected to said belts on said outlet, for simultaneously advancing each one of said belts in a direction toward the discharge end of said outlets with which each one of said belts is associated.
 7. A noncloggable dispensing chute device as set forth in claim 1 in which the conveyor belt of a given outlet includes means for adjusting the tension on said belt.
 8. A noncloggable dispensing chute device as set forth in claim 1 in which said movable belts of said conveyors in said pair of outlets are of different lengths.
 9. A noncloggable dispensing chute device as set forth in claim 1, including a plurality of bracket means extending between a conveyor belt of a given outlet in one of the pair of sidewalls of the given outlets in order to connect said conveyor belt to the given outlet.
 10. In a noncloggable dispensing chute device provided with inlet means and at least a pair of opposed, divergent outlets adapted to simultaneously discharge material introduced into said chute device, each of said outlets including side and bottom walls, the improvement wherein said bottom walls are comprised of movable, endless conveyor belts, the upper end of one of said conveyor belts being positioned above and in spaced, vertical, overlapping relationship to the upper end of the other conveyor belt, so as to effectively prevent spillage of material between the upper ends of said conveyor belts during normal movement thereof in transporting material through said outlets.
 11. In a noncloggable dispensing chute device as set forth in claim 10, in which said chute device has an inverted, somewhat Y-shaped configuration. 